Genesis 39

1 Meanwhile, Joseph was led into Egypt. And Putiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, a leader of the army, an Egyptian man, purchased him from the hand of the Ishmaelites, by whom he was brought.

Joseph had been taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelites, who had sold him to Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officers, the commander of the royal guard.

2 And the Lord was with him, and he was a man who prospered in everything that he did. And he lived in the house of his lord,

The Lord was with Joseph and made him successful. He lived in his Egyptian master's house.

3 who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and that all the things that were done by him were directed by his hand.

His master noticed that the Lord was with him and made him successful in everything he did.

4 And Joseph found favor in the sight of his lord, and he ministered to him. And, having been placed in charge of everything by him, he governed the house that was entrusted to him and all the things that had been delivered to him.

Potiphar appreciated Joseph and his service, and put him in charge of his household and made him responsible for everything he owned.

5 And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian, because of Joseph, and he multiplied all his substance, as much in the buildings, as in the fields.

From the time he put Joseph in charge and trusted him with all he had, the Lord blessed Potiphar's household because of Joseph. The Lord blessed everything he had, whether in his house or in his fields.

6 Neither did he know anything other than the bread that he ate. Now Joseph was beautiful in form, and stately in appearance.

So Potiphar left Joseph to care for everything he owned. He didn't bother with anything except to decide what food he was going to eat. Now Joseph was handsome, having a good physique,

7 And so, after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Sleep with me.”

so some time later he caught the eye of his master's wife. She propositioned him, saying, “Come here! Sleep with me!”

8 And without consenting at all to the wicked act, he said to her: “Behold, my lord has delivered all things to me, and he does not know what he has in his own house.

But he turned her down, telling his master's wife, “Look, my master trusts me so much he doesn't even bother to find out how his household is running. He's put me in charge of everything he owns—

9 Neither is there anything which is not in my power, or that he has not delivered to me, except you, for you are his wife. How then can I do this evil act and sin against my God?”

no one in this house has more authority than me! He hasn't held back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. So how could I do such an evil thing as this, and sin against God?”

10 With such words as these, throughout each day, the woman was pestering the young man, and he was refusing the adultery.

Day after day she persisted in asking him, but he refused to sleep with her and tried to avoid her.

11 Then it happened, on a certain day, that Joseph entered the house, and he was doing something, without any witnesses.

But one day he went into the house to do his work and none of the other servants were there.

12 And she, grasping the hem of his garment, said, “Sleep with me.” But he, leaving behind the cloak in her hand, fled and went outside.

She grabbed him by his clothing, and demanded, “Sleep with me!” But leaving his clothing in her hand, he ran out of the house.

13 And when the woman saw the garment in her hands and herself being treated with disrespect,

Seeing that he'd left his clothing in her hand, and had ran out of the house,

14 she called to herself the men of her house, and she said to them: “Lo, he has brought in a Hebrew man to abuse us. He entered toward me, in order to join with me; and when I had shouted out,

she shouted out to her servants, “Look at this! He brought this Hebrew slave here to dishonor us! This man came to try and rape me, but I screamed at the top of my voice.

15 and he had heard my voice, he left behind the cloak that I held, and he fled outside.”

When he heard me scream for help, he left his clothing beside me and ran outside.”

16 As a proof, therefore, of her fidelity, she retained the cloak, and she showed it to her husband, when he returned home.

She kept his clothing with her until her husband came home.

17 And she said: “The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought in to me, approached me to abuse me.

Then she told him her story. It went like this: “That Hebrew slave you brought here tried to come and dishonor me.

18 And when he had heard me cry out, he left behind the cloak that I held, and he fled outside.”

But as soon as I screamed and called for help, he left his clothing beside me and ran outside.”

19 His lord, upon hearing these things, and having excessive trust in the words of his mate, was very angry.

When Potiphar heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is what your servant did to me,” he became angry.

20 And he delivered Joseph into prison, where the prisoners of the king were kept, and he was enclosed in that place.

He took Joseph and put him in the prison where the king's prisoners were kept, and there he stayed.

21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and, having mercy on him, he gave him favor in the sight of the leader of the prison,

But the Lord was with Joseph, showing him trustworthy love, and made the chief jailer pleased with him.

22 who delivered into his hand all the prisoners who were held in custody. And whatever was done, was under him.

So the chief jailer put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners there and gave him the responsibility for running the prison.

23 Neither did he himself know anything, having entrusted all things to him. For the Lord was with him, and he directed everything that he did.

The chief jailer didn't bother with anything for Joseph took care of it all for the Lord was with him and made him successful.